Annette Woolsey will receive the 2022 Brodniak Award for Cultural Arts Education for her decades of advocacy, funding, and support of the arts both in the schools and the greater community.

Woolsey was director of Anacortes Youth Arts from 1992 through 1997, a board member of the Anacortes Arts Festival, a member of the ASD Cultural Education Committee and the Education Committee at the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA). She also sat on the board of ArtsEd WA, formerly known as Washington Alliance for Arts Education, for 10 years. She was a board member and active participant in Fidalgo DanceWorks for 15 years and has helped fund special arts projects in the school district and projects that link ASD students with Syrian refugees through poetry and art. In addition, Woosley serves on the jazz committee funded by the Manieri Endowment to the City of Anacortes.

In her nomination of Woolsey, retired Fidalgo teacher and former recipient of the Brodniak Award Sherry Chavers lauds Woolsey for her staunch support of youth arts and her tireless advocacy for the arts in all forms: dance, music, cross-cultural connections through poetry and art. 

“She has a passionate belief that children need art to be fully realized and to express themselves creatively,” said Chavers. “She believes that art is for ALL children and that it offers a ‘safe space’ to thrive. She deserves this because of her fierce and long-lasting commitment to the arts and the youth of Anacortes School District.” 

Woolsey found out about the award at a Manierei jazz committee meeting and was completely floored. She gives credit to the teachers and artists who have linked students to the many values the arts teach: achievement, suppleness of mind, cooperation, understanding of technology and the value of content, diversity and equity.

“I’m deeply honored that my work in the community has made a meaningful contribution to the school district,” Woolsey said. “It’s been a joy to see young people in our community, often students who are struggling in other areas, blossom and grow through the arts.”

The Walter A. Brodniak Cultural Education Award was created in 1977, upon Mr. Brodniak's retirement as Superintendent of the Anacortes School District, "to foster growth of the cultural arts in the District." The award is given each spring to a student, faculty member, administrator, school director, community member or community organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural arts in the Anacortes School District during the current school year.

Woolsey will be recognized on May 19th at the school board meeting to be held at AHS library at 6:15 p.m. 

Questions? Contact the Superintendent’s Office: 360-503-1211 or tramsay@asd103.org